WINDOM DUMP

EPA ID# MND980034516
Last Updated: August, 2013

Site Description

The 22-acre Windom Dump site is located in the City of Windom, Cottonwood County, Minnesota. The municipal dump began operations in the 1930s; however, between 1957 and 1974 both municipal and industrial wastes, including more than 3,000 drums containing paint sludges, solvents, and cleaners, were disposed of in the landfill. The Windon Dump is located on the eastern edge of the city in an abandoned sand and gravel pit. The municipal well field is located within 1,200 feet of the dump.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through state and potentially responsible parties' actions. The site is part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Deferral Pilot Agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and MPCA is the lead agency managing the cleanup at the site.

Threats and Contaminants

Site groundwater was contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC); and heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, and chromium. VOCs were also detected in soil at the site.

Cleanup Progress

In the 1980s, the MPCA and the Minnesota Department of Health confirmed contamination of groundwater in the vicinity of the dump and in one municipal well, which was subsequently closed. In 1986, MPCA issued a Request For Response Action to the City of Windom and the Toro Company. The City of Windom and Toro Company completed an investigation of the site in 1987 and evaluated alternatives for cleanup. In 1989, MPCA issued a cleanup decision for the site which selected construction of a new cap for the dump and extraction, treatment and monitoring of groundwater.

In 1989, a clay cap was placed over the disposal area, and in 1990 a groundwater extraction (pumpout) system was constructed. The groundwater effluent is treated by spray aeration and reinfiltrated into aquifer. The groundwater extraction and treatment system operated until 1999, when contaminants were no longer detected. This site was deleted from EPA's National Priorities List and Minnesota's Permanent List of Priorities in 2000. Following an Agency review in 2005, the Windom City Council approved a Declaration of Protective Covenants for the Landfill Closure Area, which was recorded with the Cottonwood County Recorder.

The most recent Five Year Review, conducted in 2010, concluded that site inspections and operation and maintenance activities continue to be implemented correctly and the site remains protective. A contingency plan requires the groundwater extraction wells to be re-started for extra protection when a contaminant is detected in groundwater. Pumps were most recently restarted in 2012.